Australia has fired its first HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) rocket on home soil, marking a major milestone in its growing long-range strike capability.
The launch took place Monday during Talisman Sabre 2025, Australia’s largest-ever joint military exercise with the United States and allied nations.
Australia’s Ambassador to the United States Kevin Rudd confirmed the HIMARS launch, posting footage of the rocket firing on X. “Australia has fired our first HIMARS rocket on home turf as part of the largest Australia-US military training exercise ever. More to come,” the ambassador wrote.
Lift off.
Australia has fired our first Himars rocket on home turf as part of the largest Australia-US military training exercise ever. More to come. pic.twitter.com/vG7ejKx1ai
— Kevin Rudd AC (@AmboRudd) July 14, 2025
The HIMARS strike was part of the day one of the live-fire drills in northern Queensland. Australia was joined by the U.S., Japan, France, South Korea, and Singapore during the exercise, which also involved the U.S. F-35B jets and other long-range missile platforms.
HIMARS, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, is capable of striking targets up to 400 kilometers away. Australia received the first two of 42 launchers in April, as part of a $49 billion (A$74 billion) missile modernization program that also includes domestic manufacturing.
Talisman Sabre, first held in 2005, is a biennial exercise primarily led by Australia and the U.S. This year’s drills involve more than 35,000 troops from 19 nations, including Canada, Japan, the UK, and South Korea. Malaysia and Vietnam are attending as observers.
For the first time, the war games will extend into Papua New Guinea. Exercises will run for three weeks, spanning from Australia’s Indian Ocean territory of Christmas Island to the Coral Sea.
